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a Iso

Op en... We've landed on Orchard Lake Road

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Detroit is yet another example of
Detroit's cultural institutions building
alliances to offer the best in the world
of arts, culture and entertainment for
our community."

"I was raised Jewish. My mother
(actress Anne Meara) is Irish Catholic.
We went to synagogue a couple of
times a year and then kind of fell off.
I've never really gone with anyone
— Suzanne Chessler who was Jewish, and I'm getting mar-
ried now to a girl who's not."
Why this distancing from his religion?
"I wasn't brought up in a very reli-
Jessye Norman will perform 5
gious setting. In the generation I grew
p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the
up in, it wasn't as much an issue. I
Detroit Opera House. $30-$250.
went to Hebrew school from kinder-
(248) 737-9980. The afterglow
garten to second grade, then I went to
reception and dinner begins at
an Episcopalian school, St John the
7:30 p.m. at the Charles H.
Divine up on 119th Street, till seventh
Wright Museum of African
grade, and then I went to a private
American History $150-$250.
open school, so you get exposed to a
(313) 494-5854.
lot of different influences."
Will he be married in a temple or
a church?
"We're going to have a spiritual
`The Rabbis' Response
ceremony with a minister who's non-
In the film Keeping the Faith (see the
denominational and incorporate a
article "Love Triangle" in last week's
couple of different traditions,"
Jewish News), actor Ben Stiller plays a
replies Stiller.
Conservative rabbi whose best friend is
And how will they bring up the kids?
a Catholic priest (played by Edward
"We always had both
Norton). When an Irish-Catholic child-
Christmas and Chanuka in my
hood friend, now a grown-up corporate
household. It was
executive (played by Jenna
always about toys.
Elfman), comes back into
My birthday was
their life, the rabbi is con-
about the same
flicted about betraying his
time, and there were
religion when he falls in
lots of toys.
love with her.
' "I had a talk with
But, two years ago,
my dad (comedian
when asked by this writer
Jerry Stiller) yesterday
about his Judaism, Stiller
about that, and we
replied that he hadn't had
agreed it's very impor-
anything to do with it
tant to bring up the
since his bar mitzvah.
kids with some spiri-
At a recent Los Angeles
tual foundation, and
press conference for
that's what I want to
Keeping the Faith, Edward Ben Stiller: grew up feel-
do — expose them to
Norton, proudly called
ing cynical about faith, but
different religious tra-
himself "an honorary Jew." now IM inclined to believe
ditions, but I have yet
"I've been interested in that you have to have faith
to make that deci-
in something."
and kind of connected to
sion."
things that were outside
Isn't it true Anne
the [Episcopalian] tradi-
Meara converted to Judaism when
tion I was raised in," he said.
she married Jerry Stiller?
"Growing up, a lot of my very close
"She did," says Stiller. "Just before
friends were Jewish, and I did go to an
my older sister was born, she con-
enormous number of bar mitzvahs. I
verted to Judaism."
knew the whole service by heart by the
So he is Jewish by birth, he had a
time I was 14. I had a closet full of
bar mitzvah, he lives in New York and
guest yarmulkes. I've gone to many
works in a profession dominated by
seders in my life; I've gone to Yom
Jews. In fact, his parents are visibly
Kippur services. I've participated in the active in Jewish communal causes.
service and the dancing at the very
Why isn't he "more Jewish"?
temple where we shot the film, so I've
"It's not that I don't like the reli-
always felt a certain connection."
gion. Unfortunately I did not have a
Even after playing a rabbi, Ben
strong religious upbringing. I don't
Stiller waxed less enthusiastic.
blame anybody but myself. I wasn't
"I'm not a religibus person," he
connected to it. But as you grow
said. "I'm not really involved in orga-
older, religion becomes much more
nized religion.
important to you. I find myself

•

Ameri can

Dueling P

20% OW

Total Food Bill
Sunday - Thursday

One coupon per couple • Not good with an y other offer

Ex.fre. 4/28/00

FOR DINNER 7 DAYS

6480 Orchard Lake Road at Maple

248.737.4600

leap

\-\

MONDAY & TUESDAY SPECIAL

Your 7 entrees to
choose from:

Dinner
for Two

• Coteletti (Veal) Parmigiana
• Spaghetti and Meatballs
[Dinner for one $11=3
•. Chicken Cacciatore
2 entrees
• Ziti in Vodka Sauce
(choice of 7 entrees)
• Eggplant Rollatini
2 glasses of wine
Soup or salad
• Broiled Whitefish Arregenate
Dessert
• Eggplant Parmigiana

$2299

(ice cream or coffee)

25938 Middlebelt Rd. (at 1 1Mile Rd.) (248) 476.1750

Open 7 days • Lunch: Monday - Friday • Dinner: Monday - Sunday

4/21

2000

95